Anheuser-Busch Again Criticized for Appealing to Teens

Anheuser-Busch (AB) has again
raised the ire of public health
and safety advocates over the
promotion of one if its products.
The controversial product is
"Spykes"—a 2-ounce bottle of
flavored malt beverage meant to
be mixed with beer or other
drinks or consumed as a shot.

Packaged in colorful bottles,
Spykes contains 12 percent alcohol
by volume. It comes in four
flavors-lime, mango, melon and
hot chocolate. The product also
contains caffeine, ginseng and
guarana, which are the components
of energy drinks such as
Red Bull that are very popular
with young adults. Critics such
as the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and Mothers
Against Drunk Drivers (MADD)
say these flavors and characteristics
mask the taste of alcohol,
making it easier to get drunk on
the product.

Glynn Birch, MADD National
President has objected to Spykes
on multiple grounds, including
the fact that the promotion of
the product ("It opens the night
up to experimentation") appears
to be attractive to teenagers. MADD
has requested that AB withdraws
its promotion of the product.

"This is a shameful ploy
to market malt liquor to the
Lunchables set," said George A.
Hacker, director of alcohol policies
at CSPI. "Anheuser-Busch is practically begging to be investigated,
subpoenaed, sued or
hauled before a Congressional
committee to explain this one."

AB officials have defended the
drink. "As with all of our products,
we encourage the responsible
consumption of Spykes," said
Francine Katz, AB's Vice President
of Communications and Consumer
Affairs.

BREAKING NEWS!

The Alcohol Tax and Trade Bureau
(TTB) has announced it now
believes that Spykes warning labels
are too small and unreadable.
TTB had initially approved the
labels. AB has agreed to halt Spykes
shipments and reprint the labels.